Cutting Corners. But Why?

By Richie Whitt Wed., Jan. 13 2010 at 1:00 PM

Categories: Stuff That Ain't Really Sports Stuff

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Last night I'm in my car, sitting at a light in McKinney. I'm third back in the right lane. Minding my own business, pondering Cowboys-Vikings, wondering where is the best place to buy bulk 5-hour Energy drinks, convincing myself that the "thud" back up the road was a box and not a dog when, all the sudden, a car from the left honks at me.

He gestures for me to scoot back. Seeing that there is a car behind me, I gesture back that I don't necessarily think his idea is all that grand. The car in front of me inches up, allowing the guy from the far left lane to to cross into the right lane and ...

to speed through a gas station parking lot and then onto the street.

I don't get it. Never have. I'm all for ingenuity and ambition and go-get-it-ness, but what possesses people to cut corners and avoid a traffic light? Are people really in that big of a hurry?

I wanted to see for myself, so I turned right and followed the guy. At the next light - not more than 500 yards up the road - he was slouching in his car, patiently puffing on a cigarette. Whatever urgency had moved him to turn the previous intersection into his personal obstacle course had apparently passed. I don't get it.

Are you one of these people? Do you know one of these people?

Can you explain these people?

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He was in the left lane, and then turned right? Unless the story isn't clear or I'm missing something, the dude was in the wrong lane and was hoping to turn right. Last I checked one can't turn right from the left lane without going to the right lane first, which was full according to the story. Doesn't really sound like he was in a hurry so much as he was heading the wrong direction. Sometimes though, lights are stupid and it's just the principal of the situation that is very frustrating. E.g. When no one is at the light for miles in any direction and it turns red just when I get there, who would tell me I'm stupid for being frustrated? We can put a man on the moon but we can't design a light that stays green when there's only one car at the intersection? I can up with dozens of scenarios in which it makes sense to avoid a light. Sometimes missing one light will set you back up to 1.5 minutes, which makes you miss multiple other lights. Combine that with idiots driving 35 in a 50 and you get your boss on your back when you're 15 minutes late even though you left 1/2 hour early. If no one here considers that frustrating, then I guess the world is just up of very patient people who couldn't care less about what happens on the road. I, however, take driving very seriously and pay attention to every speed limit sign, every other car on the road, every turn signal, etc. When people or lights throw a wrench into my trip plans, I get frustrated. But, I don't cut corners, I just turn right and make a U-turn whenever it's safe.
<i>just your typical transplant from the north.</i> Not so. My best friend -- born Detroiter, automotive journalist, has driven in pretty much every major metro area in the country -- has remarked on the Dallasite's remarkably counterproductive impatience and territoriality (my lane! not gonna let you get in front of me!). Along with the inability to merge at speed; slowing down at the end of the on-ramp is stupid and dangerous. Pick your spot and *go*.
just your typical transplant from the north.the cock sucker doesn't have time to wait for lights to change.
Richie, you are so annoying on the Fan and an ugly ass dude. There are alot of different drivers out there and you cant control what they do, so why bitch about it? Deal with it and move on....and if you cant, then get ur ass off the fast lane and let us speeders on thru. Screw all you sensative pricks on here, learn to drive with a pair. Dont hide behind your steering wheel, If you flip me off.....be prepared to get out of your car and catch an ass whoopin.....nice day bitches
Only kidding.......mostly. I do drive fast though. But what if I'm one of the psycho's with a gun.......
I hope this subject come up during community quick hits today.
I'm squarely in the corner with Mike and Jamal on the right lane, going straight ahead, but you can't make a right turn now. close second is the left lane/on my phone/going slow M Effer.
Richie... So just because someone did something you deemed was stupid your curiosity got the better of you and you followed him... What else have you done like that: Painted your whole body your favorite sports color? Hip Hop Concert in Compton? Heroin? feel free to add to the list
The explanation is simple. Like most people, that dude's an idiot. They're everywhere, and their visibility becomes apparent when they're out there & behind the wheel. The idiocy in this case is more apparent because that type of corner-cutting move is illegal.
I'm a non-fan of the jackwads who exit the freeway when traffic is backed up to run down the service road and get right back on thus causing all traffic to go even slower. I believe they will be spending eternity in Dante's 13th level.
Hey Biggun - You are joking about your driving habits, I realize. Right? If not, you understand that there are lots of road raging psychos with guns out there, don't you? One thing I learned in my time on the Internets: If you want lots of responses, poast something about idiot or asshole drivers. You'll find out quickly that everyone drives like a jerk except you and me. I see them all the time, but I've never actually seen anyone (except Biggun) admit to such behavior. So, very original, sir.
Damn it. I misread the sixth word of the second paragraph. I thought it said "scott" and that I was FINALLY getting my own Sportatorium blog post. I do what I want while driving. I use the Blackberry to read this blog. I also text and post replies on this blog (like I'm doing now). Fuck traffic! This is scott's world and scott does whatever he damn well pleases. sitting on the High Five in traffic, scott
I am a loyal P1 and love the Ticket, but Junior generally sucks and You're An Ass If is such a waste of time. I drive fast and slow in the right lane, don't signal, drive against traffic, cut through parking lots, shoot the finger to anyone that crosses me, tailgate constantly, break check constantly all because I'm more ruthless and the rest of you drive like fucking pussies.
Yes, quite simply, a person like this is a selfish jerk.
RW, you should bring this up on The Fan. You call the segment "Your and Ass if."....wait a minute....
mike- those people deserve to get dragged out of their cars and the shit beaten out of them. reginald denny-style. if that happened every once in a while it might serve as a deterrent.
@Mike Good call... happened to me yesterday evening.
I saw a guy one time pull out onto a one-way road IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION so he could backtrack a block without having to circle around. Are you one of these people? Do you know one of these people? Can you explain these people?
My favorite is the guy who is in the center lane approaching a red light and sees one vehicle in front of him and darts to the right hand lane at the last minute so he can be 1st in line to go straight but now has caused 20 cars backed up behind him trying to turn right.
Brings to mind the greatest sniglet of all time: esso asso.
RW..don't you know that these people are more important than the rest of us and that their time is more valuable? Waiting in traffic is for the masses, not these special people. My favorite is the guy that rides your bumper, speeds around you, weaves in and out of traffic and then finds himself sitting next to you at the next stoplight. BTW, who is Allie and what are the answers?
I've cut through a gas station only to avoid a short light at a frontage road, but then to be fair I avoid that area like the plague as it's so congested. As long as we're doing road pet peeves, why does someone, with 3 lanes on a residential street to choose from, have to verrrrry slowly make a right turn into my lane -- completely ignoring the fact the other two lanes are empty? And then have the nerve to glare at you (or worse) when you pass.
Ummm... $5.67 for a gallon of Regular Unleaded? Where the hell were you Richie? Sincerely, I have gas
this sounds similar to the person who runs the stops sign to turn onto the street in front of you, to then only drive 20mph once they have successfully cut you off and held you up from getting wherever it was you were trying to get to. aren't people great?! :-|